Power Ballads
 

One of my favorite types of songs are power ballads: epic length, multi-faceted, narrative songs that can't be described on paper and can only be understood by listening to them.

The musical composition of power ballads typically start slow, with one or two instruments being played, or maybe just vocals, and gradually build and build.

Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen is a notable power ballad, particularly with its intricate, narrative-type vocals and its eruptive climactic finish.

The song length of ballads are longer than an average song, (usually around 5 minutes or longer), and the lyrics are long and typically explain a story. Most ballads forgo a set song structure, and do not have a chorus or verses at all.

Power ballads are usually enormously popular pieces for bands to use in concerts and are rarely kept out of their live performances.

Anyway, this thread is for discussion and posting of your favorite power ballads. So go find your favorites and discuss them here, and bring a lighter!


I'll start with one of my favorite power ballads.

"Killer of Giants", from The Ultimate Sin by Ozzy is a top-notch power ballad, with a mind-blowing solo by Jake E. Lee.

Mmmm.

You know what's odd? Journey, and more specifically, Don't Stop Believing seems to have exploded in popularity with the mid twenties/hipster crowd around here (Houston). Journey performed in the area recently and they sold out mostly to a younger crowd. Just find it odd.

Anyway, there's nothing like a good power ballad to psych yourself out. I'm not a huge fan of musical grandiosity, but there's no denying how much fun they are to song along to.

\m/

Yeah, I saw that song featured on Family Guy, and a karaoke bar was involved. In my defense, I am NOT a regular viewer of that show.

Hell yes. This is my childhood anthem.

FG uses a lot of 80s pop culture references because Seth McFarlane and most of the writers grew up around the time. I think they may have inadvertently helped make the 80s ironically chic for a while.

Hell yes x2. Awesome song from my childhood!

By the way, I've always wanted to know, is that a real song or was it made just for that episode?

You know, I never really figured to look that up, but here ya go:

Sweet Victory - The SpongeBob SquarePants Wiki

[QUOT=IvanMC;1423502]"Killer of Giants", from The Ultimate Sin by Ozzy is a top-notch power ballad, with a mind-blowing solo by Jake E. Lee.[/QUOTE]

This is true.

You can't have this thread and not discuss Meatloaf. FFS people.

What's a meatloaf? Can I eat it?

I've always thought Paradise By the Dshboard Light kinda fits the power ballad mold.

There might be lots of kinds of power ballads: For the Love of God, by Vai is one, isn't it? And it's a heavenly experience to listen to that song. Flat Lands by The Aristocrats is another power ballad, right? At the same time, Nothing Else Matters is another one. Can we say that One, by Metallica as well, is a power ballad? Don't Cry, by GNR... is it a power ballad or just a ballad?

The ultimate power ballad:

Not nearly as well as...


Objects In The Rear View Mirror May Appear Closer Than They Are.

(Yes, the guy in shades IS Robert Patrick.)

I was one of the people who first heard don't stop believin from Family Guy, but I truly think it's just a really really good song.

I think a power ballad is really any song that doesn't follow a typical song format, is long with a lot of instrumentation, and emotional vocals. I think the distinguishing factor is that a pb must have amplified instruments, among other things. Sympathy for the Devil is mostly acoustic till that razor-edge guitar solo.

I'm not a huge fan of it, but I think Stairway To Heaven might be slightly more popular as the ultimate power ballad.

Here are some of my favorite "power ballads". In no particular order:

'Still They Ride'-Journey ( 1981) The best Journey ballad EVER.

'Alone Again'-Dokken ( 1984 ) A TRUE power ballad if there ever was one!

'The Price'-Twisted Sister ( 1984) Often overlooked by some-too bad.

'I Still Love You'-KISS ( 1982 ) How many power ballads feature killer drum fills? R.I.P. Eric Carr ( :( ).

'Nobody's Fool'-Cinderella ( 1986 ) 'Bringing On The Heartbreak' re-written, but so what? It still blows it away!

'Alone'-Heart ( 1987 ) Ann Wilson's vocal is INCREDIBLE on this one.

'I Saw Red'-Warrant ( 1990 ). Forget about 'Heaven'. Enough said

'Reason To Live'-KISS ( 'Alone' and 'Is This Love? ( Whitesnake) re-written, and arguably Paul Stanley's greatest vocal performance of the 80's. This song should've topped the Billboard charts considering power ballads were all the "rage" in 1987. Sadly overlooked for whatever reason).

'Ain't Quite Right'-Paul Stanley ( This 1978 gem from his KISS solo album arguably pre-dated the "power ballad", or at least the term. Regardless, it remains a timeless classic. Criminally underrated).

'The Angel Song'-Great White ( 1989 ) Arguably their finest moment on record.

I'll keep it at ten... for now! :wavey: ...:)

In my opinion this is not a power ballad nor is the Queen song?????:confused:

Still Loving You by the Scorpions is a power ballad! A slow melodic song that builds with crushing guitars and drums!
Motley Crue Without You.........
Skid Row I Remember You
These are power ballads in my opinion.

Yes well I just listened to all of these songs and they scream power ballads!:bowdown:

Meh, there's a bit of a grey area I think between a power ballad and a rock ballad. If the song employs an electric guitar, I usually just call it a power ballad.
I actually meant for this thread to be the discussion of both rock and power ballads, and I thought about asking a mod to change the title of this thread to just "ballads" but I thought the title of just "ballads" sounded lame so I forgot about it since I couldn't think of something else to call it.

Anything from X Japan!

Also Winger's "Headed for a Heartbreak" is a goodie as well as Motley's "Home Sweet Home" - I like the original version best, not the '91 version from Decade of Decadence. I know it's almost the same but with real piano, but for some reason I like the keyboard sound better for the song in the original.

The best ballade is
NOTHING ELSE MATTERS XD

I agree.

Hell yes. The lyrics to this song's chorus are hilariously awful, but they're a Japanese band, so they get a pass.

I almost just lost a ton of respect for you before I saw that you changed it to "boring ballad"

Never much liked that song either. "The Unforgiven" is a pretty sweet power ballad though. And yes, Metallica can pretend all they want, but that song is a power ballad.

I'd vote for the unforgiven.

Ozzy Osbourne- You Can't Kill Rock & Roll. From Diary Of A Madman.

Scorpions- Wind of Change.

Queen- Who Want's To Live Forever?

Bonfire - Who's Fooling Who

Thunder - Love Walked In - (Official Music Video) (HD) - YouTube

In a more progressive sense, this one sort of fits the bill. It's like the evolved version of the power ballad. If the first few minutes are to EDM for you, just give it a few more.

Wow, I'm really surprised no one mentioned Guns N' Roses.

But, I'm not upset by any means :D